Thread controller for sewing machines



Aug. 6, 1929.

J. R. MOFFATT THREADCONTROLLER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May '23, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 6, 1929. J. R. MOFFATT 1,723,195

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1924 4 sheets-sheet2 Aug. 6, 1929, J. R. MOFFATT THREAD CONTROLLER FOR SEWING MACHINES 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 23, 1924 Aug. 6, 1929. J, MOFF'ATT 1,723,195

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 23, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES males PATENT OFFICE. 1

JAMES R. MOFFATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIALMACHINE COI IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIOIl-ATION OF ILLINOIS.

THREAD CQNTROLLER FOR SEWING MACHINES,

Application filed May 23, Serial No. 715,421.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in threadcontrollers for sewing machines, and more particularly a rotary threadcontroller for the looper threads ot a sewing machine.

An obiect oi the invention is to provides thread controller oi. theabove type which 13 so constructed that it the thread breaks itcannotpossibly be wound onto the rotat ng shaft of the thread controlleror the moving parts of the thread controller. p

A turthcr object of the invention is to pro vide a rotatino; threadcontroller which very simple in donstruction, wherein the parts may bereadily assembled and which s readily accessible for adjustment.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part behereinuit more tullv disclosed.

the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinvention Figure 1 is a side View with parts in section of a sewingmachine embodying my improve ments; I

2 is a plan view of the machine with parts broken away to sho moreclearly the thread controller;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view partly in secti on iind partly in sideelevation showing the thread controlling member and the partsassociatelil there vith;

Fin. 4 is a sectional view on the line l4 of I 5 is a sectional view onthe line 1b,. 6 is detached perspective. viewot the Fin. 7 is a persiiective view showing; the

thread uidi cl annel menil'ier and the cover plate therein]?itordirecting the thread 'lrom the thread controller to the work supportingarm;

Fin. 8 is a view more or less diagrammutic showing;' the relation otthethread controller to the loopers when the loopers are at the forwardends of their stroke;

Fig. 9 is a similar view but showing loopers slightly retracted;

Fi 1O a similar view but showing the loopers at the rear ends of theirstroke and Fig. 11 is a view partly in section and part- "the ly in sideelevation showing the cam for clamping the threads. The invention isdirected to a thread controller for sewing machines, and more per asthey move into and out of the needle thread loops. The looper isoperated by a shaft mounted in the head ofthe machine and eX tc dingtransversely of the looper sha it. On the end of this transverse shaftismyi1n proved thread controller. Said thread conpreterably consists of anouter cylindrical :liange mounted on a shatt and overhanging the endthereol, and a similar inner cylindrical flange. These two flanges arepreferably formed integral with the supporting member and are spaced soto form an annular groove therebetween. lateral peripheral edges of theflanges are similarly shaped and are formed as to provide cams fortaking u; and releasing the thread. Located within the inner flange athread guide.

supply through Thu The threads are led from the this thread guide andthen across the periphery of the flanges to an outer thread guide. Anipper mechanism provided which is adapted to engage the threads betweenthis inner thread guide and the supply for clamping the same to preventthe c0iitrolling member iron} drawing oil thread. from the supply atintervals. i

Referring; more in detail to the drawings my improved thread controllershown as applied to a sewing machine which includes a standard 1carrying an overhanging arm Bin which is mounted a needle bar 3 whichneedle bar is ,reciprocated by means of a needle lever l mounted on theoverhanging arm 2. Said needle lover 4. is reciprocated by means ofeccentric strap 5 which cooper-- ates with. an eccentric on the mainshat't (3. Said needle bar 3 is provided with two needles 7, 7. Thematerial is held on the work support by means of a presser foot 8mounted on a presser bar 9 and held in engzigement W, ;l1

oil the machine is such as to teed the material an aux l being stitchedon to the arm. Cooperating with each needle T henii the work su Thelooger threads are indicated at l, 1 1n the drawings. These loope t1leans on their way from th supply to pass first through the tension lrespectively, and thence throi .j proved threal controlling mes the endof the shat- 6 (see drical member i 15 which projects the axis of theshaltthereof. The member 1 flange 16 projecting thei less diameter thanthe n a a 1d therefrom so as to PIOVlCLQ an e 21. The periphery of theseor '1 similar shape. The lateral flange 1S shaped to form car.

and releasing tlie tliread. 14; carrying these flanges ]u* r s hub 19which fits on the d is secured theret 20. The thread s (re le 7 J! uiorinec 25. This n 26 so evlindric. s as clervl" eh X dr the shaft a camis fastened t t o 18. Apin19 fits within the holds the samer i i x w i uN ire nieinoei 4i 27 through which the sol readily reached. This inch 1raised cam portion 17 nds throughout about two-thirds of the l1'f11l11ference of said member 1'5. Fae-id ra sed portion 17 is tapered at itsedges. The of this raised member is to Ql ft fls threads between thethreat guides vie 23 as the shaft rotates, and press against the member24; Thus it is raised portion acts e nip ier, p the take'up from drawinthread rroin supply from the time that the loope their retractingmovementuntil th of the loogers engage the needle loo succeeding stitch.The Slilflli 25 to a hr; Chet 28 which isformed as a frame 29 secured tothe 1 LllG machine and extending the thread controllers on the end ofthe shaft A screw 30 passes through an open ing 31 in the end of theshank and is thre: ded into t iis bracket 28. A bolt carried by theauxiliary frame 29 teinunares l the shank portion L5 of member carryingthe thread guides. This screw can be shifted endwise oi the i frame andits purpose is to force THC shenl' inwardly or to allow it to i T V ut lhus vary the ni portion 1T on FLORA are SO I in anv t he thread 0 t 1inher grip on the thread, or ch21 the 1 diiierent sines 0 tii I. lb notA s 1 I J a. l M0311 the thread 18 SH is a;-

33o mater onar memwill always it is in the cycle looperq ind release itat t e seine. t1 i does not Tn OLilQl' w rds the length 01" the tlieadgiipging oerioe tor ecjuetr ents is precisely the nd the time of actionof this thread period the stitch c le is always side or the ie-r' threadcontrolle"s. wardl g' progectin h eiztemls within the i reineli ns ofthe holt holds said finther with the walls of the means for firmlyclsinpi sienlz or the cast ollf fins; r 'tseli, this forming a tE-sh r5* shown in Fig.

2 of the drawings, and the bolt passes through the slot formed by theU-shaped shank and serves to permit the shank ot the cast off tin- ;r-erto be adjusted and thus the cast off linger adjusted relative to thecontrolling members.

This *ast oil linger projects into the annular groove 21 between theshell runs of the inner and outer thread controllers. By adjusting this*ast oFf linger in a direction outwardly away from the controlling camand longitudinally of the axis of rotation of the same the thread willbe cast off atan earlier interval in the cycle of rotation ofcontrolling cam, and by adjusting the cast oil inwardly tor ard therotating controlling cam it will cause the thread to be cast off at alater period in the cycle of rotation of the controlling member. It willbe noted that this cast oil mounted independently of the retainer 35and, therefore, the cast off army be adjusted without in any waydisturbing the position of the retainor relative to the controllingmember. The thread after leaving; the thread guides and 28,-nassesacross the edges of the overhanging portions of the coi'itroilers. andthence in rear of a thread guide 4:1 and then along; a channel in a plate to until. it reaches he interior of the work supporting arm. Here itpasses in rear of a gu dine; wire thence along the work suppertii'ig;-arm to .Sllllk able guide eyes attached thereto and to the loopers inthe usual way. T he channel in the plate 4.9 is covered by means of aspring pressed cover plate ite (see Figures :2 and 7 Referring toFigures 8 to 10 inclusive, l. have shown more or less diagrannnati rallythe thread controllers and the loopers they related to each other duringtheoperation of the machine. In Fig. 8 of the drawings, the looper hasmoved forward to the end of its stroke and is about to be retracted. Thecontrollers rotate in the directimi of the arrow in this figure. Whenthe threads pass from the hill or raised portion (a to the depression orvalley 7), thread is given up to the loopers, and this permits theloopers to move forward to the ends of tacir strokcs withoutstrainingthe thread to a breaking: point. In Fig. 5), the loopers are on theirrearward movement, and as they move back, they also move sidewise andform a thread triangh the needles to enter. it is essential that thethreads should be put under tension in fornr ing' the three .riang'leand this is accomplish ed by cd or hill pintion of the threadcontroller. The cast o'll linger 59 resists the tendency of theprojectii cam (Z to carry the thread around with the stating; controllerand thus insures that the thread will follow or ride along theperipheral edge of troller. The thread can not slip over the shoulder (Zof the thread controller and hecomeslack by reason of the fact that thecheck finger comes into play and holds the thread until after the raisedcam portion of he con-- the controller has passed the thread, afterwhich the thread is gradually given up by the recessed portion a of thethread coi'itrollor; This enables the loopers to move to the rear endsof their strokes under a substantially taut thread and aid in thesetting of the stitch. In Fig. 10, the loopers are shown at the rearends of their stroke. As the loopers move forward, the raised portion gcomes into play to take up the threads in a manner similar to thatdescribed in connection wih the shouldered part 0 and thus it is thatthe looper threads are taken up on the forward move ment of the loopersand all liability of the threads buckling and causing skipping ofstitches is prevented.

It will be understood, of course, that the two thread controllingflanges are similar in construction, although one within the other. Thetwo looper threads passing across the controlling cam surfaces arecrowded in a direction lengthwise of the shaft carrying the rotating:cam flanges and consequently there is no tendency of the threads to rollone on the other. should break, the end of the thread cannot wind up inthe shaft as usually occurs in connection with rotary take-ups andcontrollers, for the reason that the cam members overhang the end of theshaft, and there is no chance for the end. of the thread to be caughthyany rotating part on the shaft.

Then a -sin, the thread controlling or ins are readily accessible d maybe easily adjusted on the supporting shaft therefor by loosening the setscrews and turning the hub of the members carryingthe projecting cams.The

cast oti finger is likewise very a .cessible for um hary frame isprovided V a side wheel machine and on the end of a rotating shaft, itwill be understood. that it can be used in connect-ion .vith other typesof machines, and otherwise disposed in the ma- I chine.

1t obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and thearrangement of the parts may be made ithout departing from thespirit ofthe invention s set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invent-ion, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, l5

1. A thread controller for the looper thread of a SQWlllQ' machinecomprising a rotating shaft, a cylindrical flange mounted on andFurthermore, if a thread overhanging the end of said shaft, the edge ofsaid flange having a laterally projecting thread engaging cam, and meanslocated rauially within and without said flange for directing the 10 perthread into the path of said thread cam at one portion of the path oftravel thereof.

2. A thread troller for the looper thread of a sewing machine comprisinga rotating shaft, a cylindrical flange mounted on and overhanging theend of said shaft, the edge of said flange having a laterally projectingthread engaging cam, means for directing the looper thread into the pathof said thread cam, and a ret iner linger cooperating with said cam fortemporarily retaining the looper thread shifted into engagementtherewithby said cam.

3. A thread controller for the loo thread of sewing machine comprising arotating shaft, a cylindrical flange mounted on and overhanging the endof said shaft, the edge of said flange having a laterally projectingthread engagin cam, means for directing the looper thread into the pathof said thread cam, and a cast oft linger cooperating with said flangefor insuring that the looper thread is engaged by said cam projection.

et. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewing machinecomprising a rotating shaft, a cylind 'ical flange mounted on andoverhanging the end of said shaft, the edge of said flange having alaterally n'ojecting thread engaging cam, means for directing the looperthread into the path of said thread tam, a cast off finger for insuringthat the looper thread is engaged by the cam, and a retainer lingercooperating with said cam for temporarily retaining the looper threadshiftct, into engagement ti'1 3? '6\\'itll by sad cam.

A thread controller for the looper thread a sewing machine comprising 1inner and outer cylindrical flanges mounted on and overhanging the endof said shalt, said flanges being spaced from each other o as to form anannular r ess therebetween, each flange h= ving similar shaped anddisposed projecting thread engaging cams, and means for directing thelooper thread into the path of said cams.

6. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewing machinecomprising a rotating shaft, inner and outer cylindrical flanges mountedon and overhanging the end of said shaft, said flanges being spaced fromeach other so as to form an annular recess therehetween, each flangehaving similar shaped and disposed projecting tnread engaging cams,ieans for directing the looper thread into the path of said cams, and aretainer linger attending into the annular recess between thecylindrical flanges and cooperating with said cams for temporarilyretainingthe looper thread shifted into engagement therewith by saidcams.

a rotating 7. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewingmachine comprising a rotating shaft, inner and outer cylindrical flangesmounted on and overhanging the end of said shaft, said flanges beingspaced from each other so to form annular recess therebetween, eachflange having similar shaped and disposed projecting thread en agingcams, means for directing the looper thread into the path of said cams,a retainer finger extending into tie annular recess between thecylindrical flanges and cooperating with said cams for temporarilyretaining the looper thread shifted into engagement therewith by saidcams, and a cast off finger projecting into said annular recess andoperating to insure that the thread is lifted over the thread projectingcams.

8. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewing machinecomprising rotating shaft, cylincrical flanges located one within theother and spaced from each other to form an annular recess, the outerflange being mounted on the end of the rotating shaft and overhangingthe s me, the inner flange being located within the outer flange androtating with said shaft, a stationary thread guiding member locatedwithin the inner flange and mg a thr.. i guide for guiding and holda hethread in engagement with the edges of thread controlling flanges, saidthread controlling flanges having projecting cams for engaging taking upthe looper thread.

9. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewing machinecomprising a rotating shaft, cylindrical flanges located one within theother and spaced from each other to form an annular recess, the outerflange being mounted on the end of the rotating shaft and overhangingthe same, the inner flange being located within the outer flange androtating with said shaft, a stationary thread guiding member locatedwithin the inner flange and having a thread guide for guiding andholding the thread in engagement with the edges of said threadcontrolling flanges, said thread controlling flanges having projectingcams for engaging and taking up the looper thread, said projecting camsbeing shaped and disposed so as to take up the looper thread as thelooper moves forward into the needle thread loop, give up looper threadafter the looper point is well into said needle thread loop, take upthread on the rearward movement of the looper. give up thread after theneedle has entered the looper thread triangle, and take up thread as thelooper reaches the rear end of its stroke.

10. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewing machinecomprising a rotating shaft, a cylindrical flange mounted on andoverhanging the end of the shaft, and guides cocperatim with said flangewhereby said flange as it rotates will force the thread in a directionsubstantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the threadcontroller member.

11. A thread. controller tor the looper thread of a sewing machinecomprising; a rotating shaft, a cylindrical flange mounted on andoverhanging the end oil said shaft, the edge of said flange having aprojecting thread engaging cam, and means for directing the looperthread into the path of said thread cam, and means carried by therotating shaft for clamping the thread so as to prevent the threadcontroller from taking thread from the supply.

12. The combination with needle and a thread carrying looper movableinto and out of the needle thread loop; of a thread controller includinga rotating shalt, a cylindrical member carried thereby, a peripheralflange on said member concentric with the axis of the sl'ialt andoverhanging the same, said flange having,- projecting cam ')ortions oren aging the thread, thread guides for holding the thread in contactwith said peripheral flange, a plate carried 5 the end ot the shaft andbaring a raised portion adapted to nip the thread between the threadguides for preventing the controlling cams from pulling thread from thesupply from the time t] looper begins its retracting; movement until thepoint of the looper engages the needle loop on the succeeding stitch.

A thread controller for the looper I thread of a sewing machinecomprising a retatinc; shaft, a cylindrical flange mountedon the shaft,and guides cooperati v with said flange, said guides being so dispo: dthat the thread makes contact with said flange at one side only of theaxis of th shaft, whereby said flange, as it rotates, will force thethread in a direction substantially parallel with the axisoi rotation olthe thread controller.

1 1-. A thread controller for the looper thread of a sewing machinecon'iprising a rotating shatt, a cylindrical flange niounted on theshaft, and guides cooperating with said flange, said guides being sodisposed that the thread makes contact with said flange at one side onlyof the axis of the. shaft, whereby said :tiange, as it retates, willforce the thread in a direction substantially parallel with the axis ofrotation of the thread controller, one of said guides being located wihin the periphery of said cylindrical flange.

1?. A thread controller for sewing 1nachines con'iprising a rotati' gcylindrical 'lange, the edge of said flange being cam shaped so toperiodically tat-to up and release the thread, and guides located.within and without the periphery of said flange adapted to hold thethread in contact with said edge. e

16. A thread controller for sewing 1nachines comprising a rotatingcircular member having a laterally projecting cam edge, adapted toengage the thread, and stationary means for holding: the thread inengagement with said cam edge at one portion of the path of travelthereof.

17. A thread controller for sewing machines, comprising a rotatingcylindrical thread engaging member and cooperating guides located withinand without the periphery of said member, adapted to guide the thread tobe controlled for engagement with the edge of said member.

18. A thread controller for sewing machines, comprising a rotatingthread engaging member adapted to periodically move the thread in adirection substantially parallel with the axis of rotation, a grippingmember rotating: *ith said thread engaging member, and a devicecooperating therewith for periodically gripping the thread as it passesfrom the supply to said thread engagi n g m ember.

19. A thread take-up tor-sewingmachines c-on'iprising a rotatingcircular member havin a pro it, sing cylindrical cam shape-d edge, meansfor holding; the thread in engagement with said edge and devices forresisting the tendency of the rotating cams to carry the thread aroundwith the rotating member.

20. A. thread take-up for sewing machines, comprising a rotatingcylindrical flange, the cdc'e cit said flange being shaped toperi0dicahy take up and release the thread, a member located centrallyof said cylindrical flange and rotating therewith, said member beingsegmental in shape, and a stationary member cooperating with saidlast-named member for gripping the thread at a point between the threadsupply and the point of engagement of said rotatin flange.

21. A thread controller for sewing ma- Cl'llIlGS, comprising a rotatingthread engaginc; member having a ca m-shaped edge adapted toperiodically move the thread in a direction substantially parallel withthe axis of rotation and devices located between the thread supply andthe point of engagement with the rotating member for periodicallygripping the thread, and means cooperating with said cam shaped edge forcausing the thread to be graduallygiven up.

22. A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotatingcylindrical thread engaging member, the edge of said member being;shaped to periodically take up and release the thread, guides adapted tohold the thread in contact-with said edge, a member located centrally ofsaid rotating member and segmental in shape, a stationary memberdisposed relative to said segmental member so as to grip a threadpassing between the same intermittently, thereby gripping the thread.between the supply and the edge oi the thread engagingmember, and meansfor ad usting said stationary member to vary the extent of grip upon thethread, or to adapt said means for threads of different sizes. 7

23. A thread take-up for sewing machines, comprising a rotatingcylindrical flange, the edge of said flange being shaped to periodicallytake up and release the thread, a member located within said cylindricalflange and concentric with the axis of rotation thereof, said memberbeing segmental in shape and having the forward end thereof inclined, astationary plate havin its end disposed adj acent the face of saidrotating segmental member, means for adjusting the position of the endof said plate, and plate having thread guides for guiding the threadbetween the end of the plate and said rotating member whereby said thrad is gripped, said gripping means operating upon the thread between thesupply and the flange.

24. A take-up for sewing machines comprising a rotating cylindricalflange having the edge thereof shaped to periodically take up andrelease the thread, guides located within and without the periphery ofsaid for holding said thread in contact with said edge, and means forintermittently gripping and releasing said thread, one of said .guidesbeing interposed between said gripping and releasing means and the edgeof the rotating flange.

A rotatable thread controlling element for sewing machines con'iprisinga cylindrical flange, the edge of said flange having dissimilarlaterally projecting cams throughout its periphery, which cams areshaped to periodically take up and give up thread held in contact withthe edge of the flange.

26. A take-up for sewing machines comprising a rotating member fortaking up and releasing he thread, a member located concentric with saidrotating member and rotating therewith, said member being segmental inform, stationary means cooperating with said segmental. member forgripping the thread thcrebetwecn, and guides for directing the threadfrom the supply between said gripping members to said rotating take-upmember.

27. A take-up for sewing machines comprising a rotating member rortaking up and releasing the thread, a member located concentric withsaid rotating member and rotat ing therewith, said member beingsegmental in form, stationary means cooperating with said segmentalmember for gripping the thread therebetween, guides for directing thethread from the supply between said gripping members to said rotatingtake-up memher, said segmental member having the forward end thereoftapered, and means for adjusting said stationary member for varying thegripping action on the thread or positioning said thread grippingmembers for operation upon threads of different sizes.

28. The combination of a sha L, a thread controlling member mounted onsaid shaft and having a laterally projecting surface overhanging saidshaft, and thread guides located one within and one without theperiphery of said thread engaging surface for guiding the thread forengagement therewith, said thread engaging surface being inpartcam-shaped and in part straight relative to its path of travel.

29. The combination of a shaft, a thread cont-rolling member fixed tosaid shaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange,,threadguides located, one within and one without said flange, said flangebeing cut away in part to form a take-up, and a castoff member adaptedto cooperate with said flange, said flange and cast-oif being shaped sothat the thread is moved away from said guides in substantially acircumferential direction of said controlling member.

30. A thread controller for sewing machines including in cor bination arotating shaft, a thread controller mounted on said shaft and havinglaterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of theshaft, thread guides located one within and the other without saidoverhanging portion for directing the thread into the path of saidthread c gaging surface, a cast oil finger adapted to engage saidthreads and cast the same off from said thread engaging surface, andmeans for supporting said cast off wl ereby the same may be adjusted ina direction substantially parallel with the aXis of rotation of saidshaft for varying the time interval when said thread is cast from thethread engaging surface in the cycle of rotation of said threadcontrolling member.

31. A thread controller for sewing machines including in combination arotating shaft, a thread controller mounted on said shaft and having alaterally projecting thrca d engaging surface overhanging the axis ofthe shaft, thread guides located one within and he other without saidoverhanging portion for directing the thread into the path of saidthread engaging surface, a cast off finger adapted to engage saidthreads and cast the came off from said thread engaging surface, meansfor supporting said cast ofi whereby the same may be adjusted in adirection substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said shaftfor varying the time interval when said thread is cast from the threadengaging surface in the cycle of rotation of said thread controllingmember, and a retainer finger mounted independently of said cast oiffinger and cooperating with said thread engaging surface for temporarilyretaining the thread cast from said thread engaging surface.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JAMES R. MOFFATT.

